From Outside magazine:
The crude that would feed the XL pipeline comes from a once pristine part of Alberta that now resembles mining operations on a sci-fi planet. At places like Fort McKay, home to First Nations people who’ve lived there for centuries, the money is great but the environmental and health impacts are exceedingly grim. The world has to have fuel. Is this simply the price that must be paid?
From BOLD Nebraska:
Omaha, NE — Nebraskans stood up to TransCanada by voting out Rep. Lee Terry, the top cheerleader in Congress for the foreign company’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline. While a national wave gave wins to the GOP across the country, Nebraskans who have fought the Keystone XL pipeline from day one marched in a different direction, sending Lee Terry back home to his “nice house” (“Dang straight!”).
From Frances Mendenhall via Progressive Omaha:
The Citizens Climate Lobby meets Saturday, Nov. 1, at 11:45 a.m. at Augustana Lutheran Church, 3647 Lafayette Avenue. The Climate Lobby’s goal is to get a tax on carbon that is entirely returned to households. “Tax Carbon, Pay People,” is the shorthand way to say it. We are starting to make a difference, but we need you to help make this happen. Also useful, there are still 12 days to buy a TAX CARBON shirt, the shirt that fights climate change. This shirt spreads our message, and its price supports our work. Get the shirt.
The November Green Drinks date is changing to Wednesday, November 5, in collaboration with the Green Omaha Coalition and The Joslyn Institute for Sustainable Communities to view the film Nebraska Nexus: Resources, Conservation, Development, and Change.
The event will be held at Aksarben Cinema from 5:30 to 9 p.m.:
Cost is $12. Get more details or purchase tickets.
Also, check the Facebook even page.
From the Nebraska Farmers Union:
The 2014 Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference, “Turning Challenges into Nebraska Opportunities,” will be October 29 and 30 at the La Vista Conference Center. A Solar Tour of OPPD, Creighton University, and Metropolitan Community College Solar Facilities ahead of the Conference will be October 28. Sign up for the tour.
Registration for the conference is $125 until October 28 and $150 for walk-in registrations the day of the conference. For conference and tour registrations and to view the program, check out www.NebraskaWindandSolarConference.com.
For hotel reservations, contact the Embassy Suites Omaha-La Vista/Hotel & Conference Center, 12520 Westport Pkwy, La Vista, NE 68128, 402-331-7400.
From JournalStar.com:
An international company has applied for permits to build a wind farm with 54 turbines in southern Lancaster and northern Gage counties.
Volkswind USA Inc., through its Nebraska subsidiaries Hallam Wind LLC and Hallam Wind Two LLC, wants to build the wind farm on 7,000 acres of land in Lancaster County and 4,000 acres in Gage County, near Hallam and Cortland. More than 50 landowners already have signed leases, according to documents filed with the Lincoln/Lancaster County Planning Department.
From LES:
The local, community solar project, LES SunShares, is an affordable opportunity for all LES customers to be involved in the development of solar-generated energy. Each SunShare is just $1 per month; three-share ($3) minimum required. The level of LES SunShares participation will influence project size with the highest-value project selected to continue diversifying the LES resource portfolio, while decreasing reliance on fossil fuels. Construction of the community solar farm will start in early 2015.
Help bring more solar energy to the Lincoln area! The more people participate, the larger the solar farm will be.
From UNL’s School of Natural Resources:
Globally, we face significant economic, social, and environmental risks as we confront the challenges associated with climate change. The magnitude and rapidity of the projected changes in climate are unprecedented, and their implications for the health of our planet and the legacy we will leave to our children, our grandchildren, and future generations are of vital concern. We need to develop strategies now to adapt to the changes, and this process must begin at the local level.
Understanding and Assessing Climate Change: Implications for Nebraska documents many of the key challenges that Nebraska will face as a result of climate change. Commentaries from experts on Nebraska’s water resources, energy supply and use, agriculture, forests, health, ecosystems, urban systems and rural communities, and infrastructure and vulnerabilities raise serious concerns about the impacts of projected changes in climate, but they also provide a starting point for discussions about the actions that we can take to overcome these challenges.
Read the Executive Summary, key talking points, and the full report.
From the Green Party of the United States:
The Green Party has endorsed the NYC Climate Convergence being hosted this weekend in conjunction with the People’s Climate March in New York City. Join us in New York City and show the world that the Green Party is part of this historic event!
The NYC Climate Convergence schedule is available here. Jill Stein, Cheri Honkala, Howie Hawkins, Brian Jones, Margaret Flowers, and others will be speaking on global climate justice.
If you are participating in the People’s Climate March on Sunday, please join the Green Party contingent. The Howie Hawkins/Brian Jones for New York campaign and New York Green Party will be gathering at 79th Street and Central Park West, inside the gathering area for the march.
You must enter the area from the west at either 77th or 81st Streets, then walk to 79th Street to meet hundreds of other Greens. It is strongly advised to be within the march area by 10:30am to avoid being shut out if the march reaches capacity. Be safe, represent the Green Party peacefully, and let’s fight for climate justice!
Join fellow Greens and other concerned citizens in a day of action and education:
